Automatic controlling or recording apparatus.



G. G. EARL.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLINGOR RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1910.

v 1,174,241. I Patented Mar. 7,1916.

" I ,jizz/ezzi'an faiyr 3 1&1; MM"

GEORGE G. EARL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

fiUTQMAT IC CONTROLLING OR RECORDING AIPARATUS.

Lit-sear.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. "4, 1916.

Application filed January 3, 1910. Serial No, 538,249,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. EARL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Controlling or Recordmg A pa- 7 ratus, of which the following is a full, c ear,

and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

i This invention relates to devices or apparatuses that are employed for automatically controlling or actuating an independent mechanism, such, for example, as a re- Tcording or indicating device or a valve for governing the flow of a liquid.

One object of my present invention is to,

provide an apparatus of novel construction for recording the readings of a Pitot tube.

Another object is toprovide an apparatus of novel construction for automatically controlling a pressure-regulatlng valve.

Other objects and desirable" features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 o fthe drawings illustrates an apparatus embodying my invention for recording the readings of a Pitot tube; and

' Fig. 2 illustrates an apparatus for the same purpose but of. slightly different construction.

Referringto Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 and ,2 designate closed cylinders of equal weight which are suspended from a hollow beam 3 by means of hollow flexible connections 4, The reference characters 5'and 6 designate the. static and velocity tubes, respectively, the latter here shown as a Pitot tube, the

static-tube 5 being connected to the lower end of the cylinder 1 by a hollow flexible connection 5, and the velocity tube 6 being connected to the lower end of the cylinder 2 by a hollow flexible connection 6.

closed cylinder 7, which is mounted on a vertically adjustable table '1, is connected to the-lower end of the static tube 5 by means of a hollow flexible connection 73, and a hollow flexible connection 7? leads from the upper end of the cylinder 7 into a header; 8 having branches 8 and 8* that lead to the static tube 5 and the Velocity tube 6, respectively, andalso a flexible leg or extension 8 that 1s tapped into the hollow beam 3 which carries the cylinders 1 and2. A cylindricalssh'aped member 9 here shown as a weight which is connected to one end of the beam 3 by means of a rod 9, is arranged inside of'a tank 10, and a pipe 11 leads from said tank 10 into a tank 12inside of which .a float 13 isarranged, said float being provided with a recording pen or needle 14 which is adaptedto operate on a chart on a recording drum or cylinder 15 that is driven by a clock-work 16 or some other suitable mechanism; The tube 11 which establishes communicationbetween the tanks 10 and 12, is provided with a vertically disposed leg or extension 11 formed of glass or some other suitable transparent material, and said extension 11. is graduated' so as toform a visual indicating device that will'show the level of the liquid in the tanks 10 and 12. The member 9 is of a weight in excess of its displacement so static and velocity tubes 5 and 6, it is evident that any water entering the main or conduit 17 will cause a compression of air in the system, this compression of air'vary-. .ing with the pressure of the water in the conduit 17. The water flows through the main or conduit 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and if no flow exists in said conduit, the water will rise to the same height in the cylinders 1, 2 and 7.

By raising or lowering the table T on which the cylinder 7 is mounted, the level of the water can be adjusted to the point indicated by the dotted line A-B. If the level of the water in the tank 10 stands at the point indicated by the broken lineG-J-I, and the unbalancing the system and causing cylinder 2 to descend. The movement of the beam 3 in this-direction causes the piston of the pilot valve' 18 toopen and thus permit Water to pass from a pressure line 19 through a pipe 20 into thetank 10 and thus raise the level in said tank and in the tank 12 in which the float of the recording pen is ar ranged, the means herein shownfor actuat- 'ing the piston of the pilot valve 18 consisting of a 'rod 21 that is connected to said piston and to the beam 3. When the level in the tank 10 has risen far enough to increase the sustaining force on the weight 9 suificiently to ofiset theincreased weight in cylinder 2, due to the rise occasioned by the velocity tube, the equipoise of the system will be restored and the piston ofthe pilot valve 18 will be moved in the opposite direction so'as to cut ofl"tli'e fiow of water from the pressure line 19 into'the tank 10. If the level in cylinder 2 should, then fall said cylinder would rise and thus cause the piston of the pilotvalvelS-tb be moved in uch a direction that the-water in tank'10 could drain out of same throu hthe pipe 20into a waste-pipe 22, thus re ucin'gthe sustaining force on the weight 9 so that said weight will descend, the downward movement of said weight restoring the equipoise of: the .system and moving thepiston of the pilot valve 18 into such position that the pipe 20 is closed. The apparatus when properly calibrated will indicate every increase or decrease of flow in theconduit 17 by a certain known change of level in cylinder2, and as this increase or decrease will be communicated to the tanks 10 and 12 it is evident that any change of level in cylinder 2 above a corresponding changeof level in cylinder 1 will be duplicated by a corresponding pro portional increase or decrease of level in tanks 10 and 12. Consequently, an accurate record of the difierence in level in cylinders 1 and 2 will be obtained by the float 13- of the recording pen 14. rising and falling as the level of the liquid in tank 12 varies, and

as such difference of level may be made to indicate the rate of flow through the conduit 17 it is evident that the apparatus will act as a flowrecorder.

In Fig. 2 I, have shown an apparatus of slightly *diflerent form for accomplishing the same results as the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the only difl'erence between said ap- =-,paratuses, however, being in the recording mechanism and in the substitution of other means than the pilot valve 18, weight 9,

bearings 33 on the frame.

and tank 10 for restoring the equipoise oi the system. The valve 18 is illustrated in detail in my copending application #536,239, J an.- 3, 1910. In the construction shown in Fig. 2- a frame 30 is connected to the beam 3, and a small electricallyoperated shunt wound motor 31 is mounted on said frame. The shaft 32 of said motor extends longitudinally of said frame and is journzrled in Said shaft is provided with comparatively fine screw threads, and two weights 34 and 35 are actuated by said thi eads in such a manner that when the motor is in service the weights will travel longitudinally of the shaft 32. These weights will both travel'in the same direction when the motor is rotating forwardly and if the motor is then reversed both weights will travel in the opposite dimotion. The beam 3 will be in'halance when the conditions referred to in the description of F ig, 1 are established; namely, when the level in cylinders 1 and 2 is at the same height and there is no flow, the weights ll and 35 at such times being at equal distances from the motor 31 which is mounted on the the beam will oscillate, and the conducting arms 36 and 37 on the frame 30 will engage the lower two of the contacts of the threepole switch, thus starting the .motor"and causing the weights 34 and 35 to travel far enough to the left to balance the difference in weight of the water in cylinders 1 and 2 and restore the equipoise of the system when the conducting rods 36 and 37 are disengaged from the contacts of the switch, the

motor coming to rest as soon as the circuitis broken and the weights 34 and remaining in the position to which they have been moved until another change in level of 1 and 2 occurs. If new the level in cylinder 2 falls or the difference between the levels 1 and 2 becomes less, then the beam 3 will oscillate in the opposite direction and the arms 36 and 37 will engage the upper two contacts of the; three-pole switoh,'thus reversing the current in the field of the motor and starting the motor back-wardly or on its reverse motion so that the weights 3 1 and 35 Will travel to the right until the beam is again in balance, the circuit being broken when the equip'oisc of the beam is restored and the weights remaining in the position to which they have been moved until the level in the cylinders 1 and 2 is again disturbed. The weight 34 is provided with a recording pen or needle 38 that cooperates with the chart on a drum 39 which is driven by a clock-work 40, or some other suitable device, so as to record-the rateof fiow through the conduit 17, indicated by the Pitottube. i

While, I have shown these particular forms of myinvention I do not wish to be limited thereto it beingapparent to those skilled in the artthat numerous and extensive departures from the form and the de-' tails thereof maybe made-without departing from the spirit of this invention,.these forms having" been shown solely for, the

purpose of illustrating specific embodiments thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,- a hollow beam, hollow cylinders or receptacles suspended from said beam and communicating with theinteriorthereof, a Pitot tube communicating with said cylinders and with a stream of flowing liquid so as to permit the liquid to enter said cylindersQan adjustable closed tank with which said Pitot tube communicates, means for es-' high and low pressure range, a passage-way from said source to said outlet, a connection from said passage-way to said third cell, a. valve in said passage-way and a movable member acted upon bythe said two first namedmovable pressure cells andthe last namedweight to operate said valve.

' 4. Inan apparatus. of the character described, the combination of a movable member, a plurality of pressure cells suspended from said member, a plurality of sourcesof fluid pressure, means to connect each source to one of said cells, fluid pressure from'sald sources being transmitted to said cells,'another'pr essure cell, mechan sm to transmit pressure therefrom to said movable member, ano'thersource of fluid pres sure, an outlet of addquate high andv low pressure range a passage-way from said other source to. said outlet, a' connection from said passage-way to said last named pressure'cell and a valve in said passagewaycontrolled by the movable member,

5'. In'anapparat'us of the-character described, the combination of a movable-member, a plurality of sources of variable fluid .90

tablishing communication between said tank ,apressure, mechanism for'transmittingpresand hollow beam, means for restoring the; equipoise. of said beam after its equilibrium has been destroyed by a variation in the flow of the liquid with which the Pitot tube communicates, and means for recording the movementsof saidbeam.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a hollow beam, hollow cylinders suspended from said beam and communieating with the interior thereof, a Pitottube" consisting of 'a velocity tube that commuflicates with one of said cylinders and a static tnbecthat communicates with the other cylinder, a closed tank communicating with i said velocity and static tubes, means for establishing communication between said tank and beam, a weight associated from said beam, a receptacle in which said weight is arranged, means operated by said beamjor controlling the admission .and escape of fluid to and from said receptacle to restore the equilibrium-"of said beam, and a tank communicating with said receptacle andhaving a float arranged therein that is, provided with a recording device,

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afluid main having fluid flowing therethrough under pressure, means in said main to createa fluid pressure difl'eronce proportional tothe flow'of fluid through the main, a plurality of pressure cells, two of which are movable, a a third of said pressure cells and a weight suspended therein acted upon by and movable in response to changes in pressure in said third cell, another source of fluid pressure, an outlet for fluid flow of adequate member and movable therewith, said member moving 1n response to changes in pressure transmitted to it, an outlet for fluid flow, a passage-way from one of said sources to'said outlet, and a valve controlling said passage-way governed by said movable member.

7. In an apparatus' of the character de: scribed, the combination of a movable memher, a plurality of pressure cells suspended therefrom, another pressure cell, means to transmit to said member the effects of variations in pressure in said cells, sources of variable'fluid pressure connected with said cells, an outlet for fluid flow, a duct connecting one of said sources and said outlet, means to con'nect said duct and said outlet 'and a valve controlling said duct governed by said movable member.

8. ,In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a hollow pivoted movable beam, a plurality of hollow pressure cells suspended from said beam and communicating therewith, sources of In testimony whereof Ilxereunto aflix my sighature in the presence of two Witnesses, .,this twentieth day of December 1909.,

, GEORGE Gr. EARL.

fluid pressure connected to said cells, a. third pressure cell, means to transmit pressure effects from said cell to said beam, another, source of fluid pressure, a duct connecting said othersource and said, last named cell anda valve controlling said duct governed by said beam. s

' Wi tnesses:

C. TALEN,

JO N G. BARTLEY. 

